Meta Platforms has reportedly proposed giving rival AI chatbot developers limited free access to WhatsApp in Europe as the company attempts to address growing antitrust concerns raised by European Union regulators. The move comes amid an ongoing investigation into whether Meta unfairly restricted competition by favoring its own AI assistant on the messaging platform.
According to reports, the proposal would allow competing AI chatbots, including systems developed by companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic, to use the WhatsApp Business API free of charge up to a certain usage threshold. Once the limit is exceeded, companies would be required to pay standard access fees. Meta reportedly submitted the proposal to the European Commission as part of discussions aimed at resolving the regulatory dispute.
The controversy began earlier this year when Meta introduced a policy that effectively allowed only its own Meta AI assistant to operate directly within WhatsApp. The policy triggered complaints from rival AI startups and developers, who argued that Meta was leveraging its dominance in messaging platforms to gain an unfair advantage in the rapidly growing AI assistant market. European regulators later indicated that they were considering forcing Meta to open WhatsApp access to competitors.
Meta later revised its policy, stating that third-party AI assistants could use WhatsApp for a fee. However, critics claimed the pricing structure and access limitations still created barriers for competitors. Companies involved in the complaints reportedly argued that Meta’s latest offer does not fully resolve concerns because Meta AI itself may continue to benefit from preferential integration advantages within the platform ecosystem.
The issue highlights the increasing regulatory scrutiny facing major technology companies as AI assistants become integrated into messaging, productivity, and social media platforms. Regulators are particularly concerned that dominant tech firms could use their existing ecosystems to limit competition and consolidate control over AI-powered consumer services. WhatsApp, with billions of global users, is viewed as a strategically important distribution platform in the future AI ecosystem.
Industry analysts believe Meta’s proposal is an attempt to avoid a potentially significant EU antitrust penalty while demonstrating willingness to cooperate with regulators. The European Commission is currently reviewing stakeholder feedback before deciding whether the proposal adequately addresses competition concerns or whether stricter regulatory measures will still be required.
